Apple is reportedly delaying the production of its larger screen iPad. It has instructed suppliers in
China to push production of the larger iPad to later this year because
of debates on its hardware features. The company is reportedly
considering adding a USB port with technology that would transfer data
up to 10 times faster than traditional USB ports. The ports could also
connect a keyboard & mouse, making the device a viable laptop
replacement. Currently, the iPad & iPad Mini devices do not include
USB ports.
The delay comes as iPad sales continue to slide. In fiscal Q1-2015, the company sold 21.4M units, down 18% year over year. The sales
decline caused a 22% drop in revenue. However, CEO Tim Cook said the iPad has a “bright future” in the long
run because a large percentage of
global iPad sales were to first-time buyers, which pointed to a lower
saturation level in most countries. Plus its enterprise partnership with IBM (IBM), a Dow stock, which has agreed to sell iPhones & iPads, could give the tablet segment a boost. The stock fell 2+. If you would like to learn more about AAPL, click on this link:club.ino.com/trend/analysis/stock/AAPL?a_aid=CD3289&a_bid=6ae5b6f7

Apple (AAPL)

McDonald's, a Dow stock & Dividend Aristocrat, US restaurants will gradually stop buying chicken raised with
antibiotics vital to fighting human infections. Within 2 years, MCD USA will only buy chickens raised without
antibiotics that are important to human medicine. The concern is that
the overuse of antibiotics for poultry may diminish their effectiveness
in fighting disease in humans. This policy will begin at the
hatchery, where chicks are sometimes injected with antibiotics while
still in the shell. "We're listening to our customers," Marion Gross, senior VP of MCD North American supply chain, said. She
said the company is working with its domestic chicken suppliers to make the transition. As the rate of human
infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria increases, consumer
advocates & public health experts have become more critical of the
practice of routinely feeding antibiotics to chickens, cattle & pigs. Scientists & public health experts say whenever an antibiotic is
administered, it kills weaker bacteria and can enable the strongest to
survive & multiply. Frequent use of low-dose antibiotics, a practice
used by some meat producers, can intensify that effect. The risk, they
say, is that so-called superbugs might develop cross-resistance to
critical, medically important antibiotics. Superbugs are linked to an estimated 23K human deaths & 2M illnesses every year in the US, & up to $20B
in direct healthcare costs. Gross said MCD expects its suppliers will treat any animals
that become ill, using antibiotics when prescribed. MCD, however,
will not buy those treated chickens. The stock fell 1.15. If you would like to learn more about MCD, click on this link:club.ino.com/trend/analysis/stock/MCD?a_aid=CD3289&a_bid=6ae5b6f7

McDonald's (MCD)

Smith & Wesson posted fiscal Q3 adjusted EPS of 20¢ on revenue of $131M. Analysts had expected
the company to report EPS of 11¢ on $123M in revenue. The gunmaker also gave earnings guidance for Q4 above estimates. "Our third quarter results reflect the successful
navigation of a normalizing firearm market following an earlier consumer
surge in firearm purchases, combined with the ongoing focused execution
of our long-term strategy," CEO James Debney said. "Sales in our firearm division exceeded our
updated expectations, reflecting solid orders from distributors and key
retailers at the start of our annual industry show season in January,"
he continued, adding that "our products remain popular with consumers
and our internal data indicates that we remained the market leader in
the handgun and the modern sporting rifle categories." The stock crawled up pennies. If you would like to learn more about SWHC, click on this link:club.ino.com/trend/analysis/stock/SWHC?a_aid=CD3289&a_bid=6ae5b6f7

Smith & Wesson (SWHC)

This was a quiet day as traders' attention is on the big jobs report tomorrow. That should provide no big surprise although it may be a little soft, reflecting the bad weather in the northeast & how that slowed business activity. The rising market today may have more to do with gov offices closed in DC caused by the snow storm. Dow remains little changed in Mar.